This thesis began with a feminist curiosity about the act of self-silencing - where we hold back our thoughts, needs, or identities - and how this is shaped by the quality of our social interactions. With a desire to question dominant social norms and explore how our relationships affect our sense of self, I investigated the link between self-silencing and self-efficacy, which led me to the imposter phenomenon.

To delve deeper into this phenomenon, I conducted a case study with PhD researchers at the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at TU Delft. What started as an exploration of imposterism among PhDs gradually unfolded into a broader investigation into the social and contextual factors that cultivate silencing, isolation, and a lack of space for authentic expression in academic life.

Rather than viewing imposterism as an individual flaw - where the burden is placed on the person to "fix themselves” - this thesis instead asks:
What is it about academia that makes PhD researchers feel like imposters?

Using a research-through-design and participatory approach, I conversed with eight PhD researchers to understand their lived experiences. After having open conversations and conducting spatial walkthroughs with them, I mapped out their experiences using the Matrix of Domination as a framework. This approach revealed the layers and nuances of their experiences across personal, communal, and systemic realms within academia.

This mapping process uncovered patterns in how imposter feelings and experiences are triggered at different social domains. The PhDs also shared what could act as catalysts to these feelings, creating a positive change to their social spaces. These insights illuminate how institutional culture, relational dynamics, and internalised expectations come together to shape feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and perceived judgment within PhDs.

These stories not only revealed what was missing or triggering, but also pointed toward what could be - social spaces where people feel seen, heard, and free to show up as themselves. It was from this place of insight and reflection that the project moved into co-creation and re-imagination. I designed a workshop as a way to create a space for self-expression and social connectedness. Two sessions were held with three PhDs in each workshop, where they made meaningful collages from old magazines. These collages represented speculative futures where academia was designed to cater for expression. Here, expression was framed not as “being your best self”, but as the ability to show up authentically in academic environments - to be able to say, feel and be who you need to be in the moment.

As a result of the collaborative workshops, six forms of expression were identified - bodily, emotional, creative, personalised, professional, communal. Each form reflected a different way participants longed to exist more authentically in academic spaces. The findings also revealed what inhibits expression - such as fear of

judgment or institutional pressures - and what enables it - like peer connection and personal rituals. PhD researchers wish to have space where they express themselves as the evolving individuals that they are - but are often constrained by academic cultures that prioritise productivity, detachment, and conformity over care, connection, and authenticity.

This thesis doesn’t propose a fixed solution. Instead, this research paves possibilities - for institutions to listen more deeply, for everyone to work collaboratively, and for PhD researchers to reclaim space for themselves and for each other. It contributes to the reimagining of academic spaces as sites not only of knowledge, but as spaces for expression, belonging and connection.

This thesis explores expanding human-centered design to a more-than-human approach to enhance biodiversity in the neighbourhood Oud-Mathenesse in Rotterdam, focusing on the shared gardens. The research uses symbiosis as a lens, aiming to improve coexistence between humans and urban nature. Oud-Mathenesse faces declining social cohesion, which among other things, furthers the disconnect between people and nature.

The envisioned symbiotic cities emphasize rebuilding a sense of community and shared feeling of ownership over the garden. However, the initial step is to strengthen connections among residents by envisioning the future of the garden while acknowledging our historical roots. The final intervention—a participatory installation—highlights commonalities between residents and urban nature, encouraging contributions to the local environment and fostering symbiotic interactions.

The research outlines three key strategies for a more-than-human design approach. First by prioritizing the relationships between humans, nature, and the environment, secondly by adopting a historical perspective to understand past human-nature interactions and by drawing inspiration from symbiotic future visions for a more inclusive and sustainable world. These strategies were compiled into a card deck to inspire other designers. While human-centered design remains dominant, the current environmental crises necessitate incorporating non-human elements into the design process. Although this approach is still emerging, further research and experimentation are needed to achieve true inclusivity.

Informal neighbourhood networks play a significant role in enhancing the well-being of citizens. These informal networks consist of active citizens and local organisations collaborating to organise initiatives and activities that improve the liveability of their neighbourhoods. Such activities are particularly important in neighbourhoods with vulnerable social groups, such as the elderly or those with a low socio-economic status, as these groups often rely more on local connections for social engagement and support. Strengthening these informal networks can therefore significantly improve the resilience and quality of life for residents.

The goal of this project was to examine how a digital tool could support citizens who actively contribute to informal networks, focusing on the neighbourhood Hoogvliet of Rotterdam as a case study.

The research began with a literature review identifying drivers and barriers for active participation in informal networks, forming a theoretical framework that guided the contextual research on resident’s experiences in Hoogvliet.
This contextual research revealed how the interviewed active citizens of Hoogvliet are generally experienced initiative takers, who have built substantial local social capital and capacity to self-organise effectively. Consequently, they face few significant barriers that a digital intervention might address.

A rather interesting finding was that these experienced initiative takers are currently limited in their capacity to expand their reach and involve more citizens, indicating a high demand for such activities. This demand stems from Hoogvliet’s social challenges and a lack of commercial activities nearby.

Based on these findings, the project shifted its design focus to supporting citizens interested in becoming active but lacking the social capital and capacity, which experienced initiative-takers have already developed. The contextual research highlighted areas where support for these interested, but inexperienced residents in Hoogvliet could be improved. These challenges informed the creation of a design vision, which was used to start the design phase.

Following two design iterations - resulting from evaluations with stakeholders, in which I implemented methods of participatory design and research through design - the project resulted in a final design: the platform Actief Hoogvliet.

This platform is designed to help interested residents explore opportunities for contributing to Hoogvliet’s informal networks. Residents can learn about existing initiatives and their opportunities to help, get motivated by success stories and explore tools for realising their own ideas.

For active residents, the platform is a space to showcase their established initiatives, get recognition for their contributions and expertise, and include help requests to invite residents beyond existing networks to join and help.
The thesis concludes that while a digital tool like Actief Hoogvliet provides opportunities for engaging and supporting new residents, its potential to directly support experienced active citizens in their informal networks may be limited. Existing local networks in Hoogvliet are deeply embedded in established communication channels, with strong values of autonomy and ownership, which may limit the lasting impact of a new digital tool.

Nonetheless, Actief Hoogvliet provides a valuable entry point for interested residents, helping to build capacity and confidence for active citizenship in the community.